Resistor for lightning arresters



Mar. 13, 1923. 1,448,398. L. II. GOLLADAY.

RESISTOR FOR LIGHTNING ARRESTERS.

FILED MAY IO, 1922.

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WITNESSES: INVENTOR Wg/W- ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 13, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LAWRENCE B. GOLLADAY, 0F WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 WEST,- INGHOUSE ELECTRIC 6c MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENN- sYLvANTA.

RESISTOR FOR LIGHTNING ABBESTERS.

To all whomz't may concer/n.: A

-Be it known that I, LAWRENCE R. GOLLA- DAY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of VVilkinsburg in the count of Allegheny and State of Fennsylvania, ave invented a new and useful Improvement in 'Resistors for Lightning Arresters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to protective devices, more especially to a device for protecting electrical apparatus, such as transformers, in high-voltage transmissaon llnes.

It is among the objectsrof this invention` to provide a protective devicevwhich shall function to absorb abnormal static charges accumulating on the line, which shallex-` tinguish the arc resulting from the current flowing as the result of such discharges and which shall have a heat-absorbing capacity to prevent damage to, and avoid the necessity of renewal of, parts of the apparatus.

It is a further object of this invention to pr vide a device of this general character wh'ch shall be of 'simple,\inexpensive construction and which shall requirel no special attention during' its service life.

Various forms of protective devices embodying the well known horn gaps in combination with resistors have been employed to advantage. My present invention is designed to provide a structure embodying horn gaps having a. series and shunt resistance in the form oan electrolytel in combination therewith.

Such a structure has the advantage of providing a large heat-absorbingl capacity and greater discharge capacity wit the certainty of extinguishing the arcs formed between' the horn gaps.

In the accompanying drawings constitutf -ing a part hereof and in which like reference characters designate like parts,

Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view .of a. protective device embodying the principles of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View thereof taken along the line II--II of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the electrical connections of the device.

The device illustrated in Figure l comprises a plurality of horn-shaped electrodes 1, 2 and 3 secured to a porcelain base 4 having a plurality ofannular projections 5 and 6 depending downwardly therefrom. The base is supported by a cylindrical metal container 7 which is provided with a ground connection 8.

Electrodes.1,'2 and 3 are so arranged as to provide a plurality of gaps 9' and 10 therebetween and the central electrode 2 is provided with a terminal 11 which is disposed within the cylindrical column formed by the annulus 6. An annular terminal 12 is secured to the electrode 3 and rests on a flange 13 projecting inwardly on the member 5. The container Y2' is filled with a suityable electrolyte 14to establish a circuit between the electrode terminals 11 and 12 and the casing 7. The electrolyte 14 establishes a cylindrical resistance column in series with the terminal l1 and the ground connection 8 and an annular column from the terminal 12 to ground, as is illustrated in the diagrammatic view, Fig. 3, in which the resistance 15 represents the column 6 and the resistance 16 the annular column 5.

The device operates as follows: the electrode 1 connected to a line circuit, such as a power-transmission line, and the gap 9 is of such size as will withstand ordinary or normal potentials in the circuit, but, with an unusual sta-tic disturbance, such as is caused by lightning, the dielectric capacity of the a1r gap 9 will break down and the c urrent fol owing the discharge will establlsh an arc between the electrodes 1 and 2 which will be extinguished by rising between the divergent horns and by the series resistance of the liquid column making conlthe divergent horns 3 and 2 or y the resistance of the annular liquid column contained within the annular depending member 5 'which is s hunted acro the gap 10 and provides a path from the terminal 12 to ground through the casing 7. This double Lacasse series and shunt connection provides a liquid resistance heing shunted across said greater discharge capacity and the liquid resistors provide a large heat-absorbing oapacity with a certainty oit extinguishing the are.

The combined action oi' the horns and resistors protects the apparatus in the circuit as the combination is designed to function when the maximum voltage tor which the system` is designed is reached. rlhe electrolytic resistors are not essentially or" proportional capacity'u'ith the dielectric strength et the air gaps, but the series and shunt resistors impart such characteristics to the device as to niake it capable ot Withstanding exceedingly great discharge without injury.

Although l have described a specific ein-` hodiment of niy invention, it will he obvious to those skilled in the art that various nio-ditications may he inade in the details ot construction thereof Without departing from the principles herein yset forth., der instance, the porcelain hase or the metal housing he or' anysuitahle shape or contour to establish the shunt and series resistance and for mounting the horn gap electrodes Any electrolyte ont a suitahle specific resistance may he employed to establish the resistors between the electrode terminals ground. The discharge gaps may he oi" dillerent dielectric strength hy varying the spacing ot the horns. The colurnns of liquid need not necessarily he concentric hut may be placed in any position relative to each other,

l claiin as my invention:

l. The combination with a liquid resistance, ot a plurality ot discharge gaps, said resistance losing electrically connected loetween said gaps and ground.

2. The combination with a liquid resistance, of plurality ot discharge gaps, said liquid' resistance being connected in series between said gaps and grounds The combination With a liquid resistance, of a plurality ci discharge gaps, said gaps and connected to ground.

d. The combination with a liquid resistance, ot a plurality ot discharge gaps, said liquid resistance losing shunted across some of said' gaps and-connected to ground.

. The combination with a liquid resistance, cfa plurality ot discharge gaps, said liquid resistance losing series and shunt connected between said gaps and ground.

6. The `conihination with a liquid resistance, of a plurality of discharge gaps, said liquid resistance being connected in series between one et said gaps and shunted across another ont said gaps and connected to ground..l

'l'. The combination with a liquid resistance, Vot electrodes, a ground container, an electrolyte and plurality of annular insulating spacers therein, and a plurality of discharge gaps connected to said electrodes extending into the spaced portions ot said electrolyte to provide a series and shunt connection betr/een said gaps and ground. yd.. yThe combination with a liquid resistance, of electrodes, a grounded container, an electrolyte and a plurality ci annular insulating spacers therein, and a plurality ot discharge gaps connected to said electrodes and extending into the spaced portion of said electrolyte to provide a series connection vhete/een one ci said gaps and ground, and a shunt connection across another gap and ground.

9. The coinhination with a liquid resistance7 of electrodes, a grounded metal ccntainer, an electrolyte and a plurality ci annular porcelain spacers therein, and la plurality ct horn gaps'connected to said electrodes and extending into the spaced portions ot said electrolyte to provide a series and a shunt connection between said gaps and ground..

ln testimony whereof, ll have hereunto subscribed iny naine this 2nd day of May,

Li-QLWRENCE GLLADAY,

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